Two Dads, 14 Kids, One Happy Family

Roger and Steven Ham wanted to adopt a baby. They had a vision of how wonderful their family would be with a single child on whom to lavish love and attention. Ten years later, the Hams have 14 kids, all adopted from foster care. It's a story of two amazing dads with very big hearts.

According to Today News, the Hams' journey began in 2003, when they were introduced to Michael. The little five-year-old was living in a group home. During the meeting, Michael whispered to Steven and Roger that he was picked on and beaten up because he was the smallest. The tender-hearted men immediately adopted Michael.

Not long after being adopted, Michael talked to his dads about his younger siblings. He'd been a caretaker for four-year-old Elizabeth and three-year-old Andrew before they were split up in the foster care system. Child Protective Services (CPS) arranged a reunion (a tear-filled one, understandably!) of Michael and his little brother and sister. Soon, Elizabeth and Andrew became part of the Ham family.

But the three Ham children were still pining for their youngest siblings, two-year-old twins named Madison and Jackson. By 2004, the little twins were officially adopted into the family. Just a year after beginning the adoption process, Roger and Steven now had five beautiful children.

Steven became a stay-at-home dad in 2006, reveling in the joys of fatherhood. His career change came just in time for an explosion of new family members. Baby Marcus, only 15 months old, joined the family, followed by 11-year-old Vanessa. She is one of Michael's cousins and had been kicked out of the house by her aunt.

Baby Cooper came in 2008 — he was only six months old when he was brought to the Hams after being abandoned behind a Wal-Mart. Cooper's little sister, Olivia, joined the family after she was abandoned at a local hospital.

Even as their family continued to grow, the Hams' home welcomed foster children in emergency situations for temporary care. It's hard to imagine the heartache these two dads must have seen as they sheltered and rescued children from broken families, but they willingly continued.

Ambrose, Logan, and Isabel were adopted next. By 2009, with an even dozen kids in their happy family, the Hams felt complete and closed their foster care license. But earlier this year, the Hams saw a report on the news that made them reconsider. A four-year-old girl, Bella, had been physically abused by her foster parents, so she and her two-year-old brother, Julian, went back into the care system.

When Steven and Roger called CPS about the children, they received some startling news: Bella and Julian were related to Ambrose. That settled it! Steven, Roger, and all the Ham children decided together that Julian and Bella belonged with them. A few weeks later, the Ham household welcomed the new little ones, and the family now totaled fourteen kids.

The children have come from difficult, and sometimes unimaginable situations into a home where they are deeply loved by two fathers. Steven and Roger recognize that the children have suffered through instability and uncertainty in foster care, so they organize their family with structure and routine. The Hams' home is quiet and orderly. Each child has a household chore and an extracurricular activity. And always in the background, there's a sense of unity. These children, once shuffled from one foster home to another, finally have a place to truly belong.

What is your reaction to this story? Do you have any experiences with foster care or adoption? Please share thoughts below!

Nicole Stevens

Nicole Stevens is a 30-something mom of four adorable kids. Her passions include spending time with her babies and doing research in the laboratory. She also enjoys crafts, photography, crochet, reading, and long walks. Her work has appeared elsewhere on WhattoExpect.com.

About Word of Mom

WhatToExpect.com supports Word of Mom as a platform dedicated to honest, engaged, informed, intelligent, and open conversation about pregnancy and parenting. However, the opinions expressed in this section are those of individual parents/writers and do not reflect the views of Heidi Murkoff or the What to Expect brand.

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here